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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
We are at the end, but it is only the start. This week’s penultimate episode of Michael Waldron’s series, Loki, is titled “Journey Into Mystery”. Tom Kauffman is this episode’s writer, while Kate Herron serves as its director.
In this review, I will discuss the second-to-last episode of Marvel Studios and Disney Plus’s newest comic book adaptation, for its first season that is. This time, spoilers will be present, as the title of this article suggests. Please beware if you are not caught up with the series.
Plot Summary
In this episode, the Time Variance Authority has pruned Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Mobius M. Mobius (Owen Wilson). They both find themselves in different areas of the end of time, which Ravonna Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) called “the void”. Loki variant Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) prunes herself to evade capture by Renslayer and the TVA. In the void, she meets up with Mobius, and the two go off to find Loki. When they do, they plan to find out who pulls the TVA’s strings.
Meanwhile, the God of Mischief joins a group of other Loki variants who have been pruned. The group consists of Classic Loki (Richard E. Grant), Kid Loki (Jack Veal), Boastful Loki (DeObia Oparei), and an Alligator Loki. Loki is taken to their secret underground hideout to avoid being touched by a colossal storm cloud-like entity called Alioth. Loki and the group share their “nexus event” stories and tales of fate. Eventually, however, they are found by President Loki (also played by Hiddleston) and his small army of Loki variants, who are led to the location due to Boastful Loki’s betraying the group.
Loki, Classic Loki, Kid Loki, and Alligator Loki flee the scene and decide whether to face Alioth (but not before Alligator Loki bites off President Loki’s hand). This ends in Classic Loki sacrificing himself to Alioth as Loki and Sylvie enchant the entity.
After an episode or two off-screen, Tara Strong returns as the voice of Miss Minutes. Wunmi Mosaku also makes an appearance as her character, Hunter B-15.
Discussion
Thanks to Tom Kauffman’s writing and Calum Ross’s editing, this episode paces through in a brisk manner. Bisha K. Ali and Elissa Karasik also join in to serve as the episode’s executive story editors. With a runtime of nearly 49 minutes, it’s difficult to catch a breath as the episode’s events transpiring one after the other. Although, the only scene that slows down is when Renslayer has Hunter B-15 confined in a small prison cell. The two women argue over Hunter’s disloyalty to the organization and Sylvie’s desire to know who runs the TVA. In fact, this is the episode’s only scene that concerns and focuses on the women characters. As a result, it passes the Bechdel Test with flying colors.
Starting with the opening scene all the way to its end theme, Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s cinematography and Natalie Holt’s musical composition had me go, “Holy shit!” I also caught the “Ride of the Valkyries”-inspired score that Holt included in the episode as Classic Loki is creating his Asgard illusion for Alioth. This only adds to my statement about never catching my breath. Both the framing and the scoring are awe-inspiring. Not to forget Christine Wada’s costume designs, Allison Paul’s visual effects production, Kasra Farahani’s production designs.
Altogether, these cinematic elements permit this episode to be the best of the season, so far.
Performances
“Survive. That’s all there is, all there ever was” is a line from Classic Loki. He, aside from Hiddleston’s, is my favorite out of all the Loki variants. Grant is given most (if not all) of the greatest lines of dialogue and action in his script. It is amazing to see what he does with it. His performance was epic, chilling, and haunting to see, truly reminiscent of the “classic” Loki from the Silver Age of Marvel comics.
It was a grand pleasure to watch all these Lokis come to one place and just fight with their magical abilities. Grant, Oparei, Veal, and of course, Hiddleston and Di Martino perform their best in this episode. Although, I just wish they had more screentime together.
Character Developments
Classic Loki and Boastful Loki have my favorite nexus events. The former faked his death and survived the events of Avengers: Infinity War, while the latter claims he conquered Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and took possession of all six Infinity Stones. This revelation of information to Hiddleston’s Loki would be interesting to note. If he ever does return to his own timeline, he might be able to make one of these decisions (most probably the former), with all the right moves of course. This could result in a potential storyline for the second season. Loki could be caught up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s overarching timeline, right where WandaVision and Captain America and the Winter Soldier left off.
The women of the series deliver some terrific performances, including, yes, Strong’s Miss Minutes. I also love Loki’s growing dynamic with Sylvie and Mobius. I’m hoping these characters’ stories aren’t wrapped up in next week’s season finale and that we get to see them in the future of the show, or even in the MCU.
Final Thoughts
“Journey Into Mystery” is a clash of the Silver Age, Golden Age, and Bronze Age of Loki variants. Marvel briefly brings us back to its roots, showing us a little of what was and how it could still very much be. Of course, they do provide that many changes have been made since the conception of its character. The episode’s title also implies the characters’ embarkment into unraveling a deeper truth that even Time itself couldn’t uncover. I honestly do not think comic book adaptations will peak this high, but time and time again, I have been proven wrong. Bring it on!
Michael Waldron’s Loki Season 1 is now available on Disney+!
Have you seen the episode yet? If you have already, what are your thoughts on it? Let us know! For more action, adventure, comic book, drama, fantasy, science-fiction, and superhero-related news and reviews, follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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